Bath's emphatic derby victory may have been underpinned by an immaculate display of place-kicking by their fly-half Butch James but it is another conversion that could have wider consequences for a club that put their quest for a play-off spot back on course after their defeat at Kingsholm.

The South African James, whose ­conversions of all Bath's six tries made poor old Bristol's performance look worse than it was, and the Kiwi full-back Joe Maddock, whose two first-half tries on his 100th appearance set up the win, were rightly lauded afterwards. Another New Zealander Shontayne Hape, a former ­Bradford Bulls rugby league player, did enough to suggest that he can make a ­successful code swap.

Bath began the fashion in the early days of professionalism when Brian Ashton lured Jason Robinson and Henry Paul for short stints at the Rec. But other league signings, notably Chev Walker's recent move from Leeds to Bath, have been failures.Hapehas been used sparingly in his first season – this was only his eighth start – but, like Jason Robinson, he can find space in the modern world of watertight defences and made a series of slashing breaks from inside-centre.

"Hape has had to be patient but he is playing very well," said the Bath coach, Steve Meehan. "He has been making great strides and hopefully by the end of the season he'll be known as a rugby union centre rather than someone who used to play league."

This has not been the happiest of months for Bath, with the fall-out from Matt Stevens' drug scandal and the worrying concussion of their flanker Michael Lipman casting shadows over the club. But their brand of expansive rugby should see them challenge for honours on harder pitches this spring and Lipman, concussed in the Heineken Cup draw in a mud-bath here against Toulouse six weeks ago, will at least return to training on Wednesday.

James, who has changed the colour of his hair from bleached blond to black, was in outstanding form and may add to the problems of the Lions this summer if he retains the Springbok No10 shirt. He is known as a physical fly-half but showed some subtle touches here, outplaying his opposite number Ed Barnes, one of the several players who has agreed a new contract and will stay at Bristol after their relegation from the Premiership this May.

Paul Hull, who has stepped in as Bristol coach after Richard Hill's abrupt departure, now has the task of keeping up morale at a club 12 points adrift at the bottom and persuading other key players to stay on. Some, such as the England prop Jason Hobson, seem sure to follow the Euro-trail to France.

"These are difficult circumstances but seven players have agreed to stay in the last week and I hope to secure the signatures of a few more and take the club forward," said Hull. "I've had a few meetings with the board and am excited about the future of the club. I wouldn't have taken on the role if I wasn't confident that there was a vision for the future."